Garbage on streets: NGT issues notice to Delhi government, EDMC

New Delhi: Amid the looming 'garbage crisis' in the capital, the National Green Tribunal sought the Delhi government's response on dumping of municipal waste on the streets. A bench headed by Justice Dalip Singh, on mentioning, issued notice to the Arvind Kejriwal government, East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC) and North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) under section-26 of the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010 (willful disobedience and failure to comply with NGT order).

The green panel passed the order after it perused news reports and pictures of various areas in east Delhi where garbage has spilled onto the roads.

"Issue notice under section-26 of National Green Tribunal Act, 2010 to the respondents - government of NCT of Delhi through Chief Secretary, East Delhi Municipal Corporation, North Delhi Municipal Corporation to show cause as to why action under section-26 read with section-28 of the Act may not be initiated," the bench said while posting the matter for hearing on June 17.

The tribunal had earlier directed the Delhi government and employees of EDMC to ensure that no waste is thrown on city roads and directed it ensure that there is no garbage on the roads as "it is bound to cause serious health hazards and adverse environmental impacts".

It had also restrained any employee of the corporations or any other person from throwing any garbage on the roads of Delhi.

The directions came while hearing a petition filed by advocate Saurabh Sharma seeking complete ban on scattering of garbage on the road by the employees of municipal corporation or any citizen of Delhi.

In a related development, Delhi High Court also directed the city government to ensure immediate release of funds to East Delhi Municipal Corporation to pay dues to employees for May and observed that sanitation workers cannot be expected to work without salaries.